UNC recruiting kids for Novavax vaccine trial in big step toward herd immunity

Doctors encourage families to consider enrolling their children. They said that they believe this is the next best step to reaching herd immunity.

While some parents are eager to sign up, others, like Chris Smith, who has a 16-year-old son, wants to wait a little longer

"I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine about three weeks ago, and that thing threw me for a loop. I mean, the next day I had to go home early from work, so there are definitely side-effects," Smith said.

After his own experience with side-effects, he said he wants to do some homework before enrolling his son in a trial.

"Obviously, side-effects would be the biggest thing, and how long the trial has been [going on.] You have to build a ground level of data, and I wouldn't want him to be at the forefront of that," said Smith.

UNC researcher Dr. Michelle Hernandez said the Novavax trial for adolescents is a placebo-controlled trial where two of three participants will receive the vaccine and the third will receive placebo.

As far as side-effects, she said headaches and fatigue are common. The vaccine is protein-based, and unlike Moderna and Pfizer, would not have to be stored in ultra-cold freezers.

"We can distribute this globally and also to more remote and rural communities because it doesn't require as much handling with freezing," said Hernandez.

Dr. C. Nicole Swiner is a community educator for Wake Research Associates, which is also enrolling children for a Novavax trial. She said researchers are confident in the trial and believe it's necessary to obtain some sense of normalcy.

"Mine are under the age that are being accepted at this point, so I don't have a choice, but I would [enroll] if mine were age 12 to 17," said Swiner. "I read the guidelines and what was happening with the study and being able to be involved as a guardian and follow what was happening."

To enroll in Wake Research Associates' Novavax study for ages 12-17, call 919-645-9229 or visit CovidStudies.org.